December 20, 2021
December 9, 2021
Kid-tested, Parent-approved Toys for Kids of All Abilities
Kid-tested, parent-approved toys for kids of all abilities! Lottie Doll Finn & Friends Loyal Companion-INCLUSION$29.99; www.Lottie.comFinn is a doll inspired by a little boy with a passion for all things space-related, who just happens to...
Useful Products for Families with Special Needs
Wobble Cushion-CORE STRENGTH/FOCUS $19.99; www.LakeshoreLearning.comJust place this super durable vinyl cushion on the floor or on a chair for flexible seating anywhere. It is specially designed to let children wiggle and wobble while they sit, helping kids...
November 28, 2021
Our Movie Night Experience is Sold Out!
Our Movie Night Experience is now sold out. Thank you to all of our amazing guests who purchased tickets for our Movie Night Fundraiser, Spider-Man No Way Home. You can still make a difference this season...
November 12, 2021
ShopAble: Support Business Owners with Disabilities
Purchasing products and services from business owners with disabilities allows them to achieve independence and self-reliance. It also encourages inclusion and the idea that all people have agency in our community. The more “able” we...
November 10, 2021
shopAble for the Holiday Season
The holidays are upon us and this is the year of the Maker! Before you purchase holiday decor, tableware and gifts for loved ones, we’d like to introduce you to a group of talented artisans with...
October 27, 2021
Special Needs Resource Foundation received honors at the 48th Annual San Diego Press Club “Excellence in Journalism” Awards.
The Special Needs Resource Foundation won 3 Excellence in Journalism Awards at the 48th Annual San Diego Press Club event. Our annual publication, Flourishing Families, received 2nd place in the Special Interest/One-Time Publications category and our Flourishing Families cover won an Honorable...
October 18, 2021
A Very Big Thank You to the Foundation for Developmental Disabilities!
Thank you Foundation for Developmental Disabilities for awarding SNRFSD a generous grant which will be used to help increase resources in our annual Flourishing Families publication. These funds will also be used to support our...
October 7, 2021
Rebuilding Trust After Big Blunders
Imagine arriving at school to pick up your child from the curb where he waits every day with an aide, but he's not there. Or, picture your reaction if you discovered that the carefully crafted...
September 27, 2021
Fun at the All Inclusive Day of Play & Resource Fair 2021
It was wonderful seeing families in-person at our All Inclusive Day of Play Event! We had a great time hosting! This event allowed us to provide information for families covering services and resources available from...
August 19, 2021
Emily Dolton wins the Tony Gwynn Award for inspiring young minds!
Congratulations to our Resource Specialist Emily Dolton, who was recently honored with the Tony Gwynn Award for inspiring young minds, thanks to the Tony and Alicia Gwynn Foundation! Emily was nominated by the Islamic Center of San Diego...
August 6, 2021
All Inclusive Day of Play & Resource 2021
We are VERY excited to announce our, in-person 2021 All Inclusive Day of Play & Resource Fair. It will be held on Saturday, September 25 from 10am-1pm at the Park de la Cruz Recreation Center...
Imperial Valley parents create programs for kids with disabilities
Jackie Riddell’s son Killian safely played in the recreational baseball program for as long as he could. His needs were greater than those of his peers, so Jackie knew he needed something different. As part...
August 5, 2021
Thanks to The Country Friends!
The Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego would like to thank The Country Friends for their generous charitable grant of $8,000. Support from The Country Friends will help us move forward with our mission...
July 28, 2021
Fun at the 2021 All-Inclusive READ 3 x 3 Literacy Event
Thanks to all who joined us for the All-Inclusive READ 3 x 3 Literacy Event. We had a great time spending time with everyone! A big shout out to the authors, Doreen Cronin, Author, Alex...
July 25, 2021
We Have a Diagnosis: Now What?
The 4-1-1 on common therapies Receiving a primary diagnosis is not always the light at the end of the tunnel. Faced with an odyssey of interventions and therapies, parents can become overwhelmed, navigating which route...
July 1, 2021
All-Inclusive READ 3X3 Literacy Event
Join the Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego and San Diego Family for our FREE, in-person event on Saturday July 24 from 9-11am at the San Diego Central Library – 330 Park Blvd, San Diego, 92101....
June 30, 2021
How Kids Benefit from Self-Determination
What would it mean for people with disabilities if they could decide, with their family support system, what to do with funds provided through the San Diego Regional Center? For participants in the three-year-phase-in-period of...
June 1, 2021
Tax Planning for Families with Special Needs
It’s a good time to start planning ahead to minimize taxes for 2021 and beyond. A key consideration for those caring for loved ones with special needs are the tax advantages associated with accounts such...
March 22, 2021
10 Tax Tips for Families with Special Needs
As if tax season isn’t already an overwhelming task for families caring for loved ones with special needs, 2020 ushered in a unique set of changes and challenges. To help lend clarity to the chaos,...
March 14, 2021
New 2021 Issue of Flourishing Families Available
We are excited to present our 12th annual publication of Flourishing Families, the resource guide for parents who have children with special needs. There are 1,200 resources to help families find services in San Diego...
March 2, 2021
Adaptive Programs Offer Exciting Adventures for Kids with Disabilities
Adaptive sports have been a huge thrill for homeschool senior Ben Lou of Poway. Lou was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) at age one. This rare genetic disease affects motor neurons in the spine,...
January 28, 2021
How to Prepare for a Child’s Hospital Stay
In the past 14 years, Alex has had more visits to the hospital than to his local park. Alex’s odyssey resulted in a diagnosis of a rare, progressive, neurodegenerative disorder NEDAMSS or IRF2BPL related disorder....
IEP Self-Advocacy
Attending an IEP (Individualized Education Program) meeting can seem daunting, especially if there is disagreement with an aspect of the program or services. Parents are a child’s best and most knowledgeable advocate, but self-advocacy requires...
January 13, 2021
Strong, Disabled Voices: Middle grade books featuring characters with disabilities
Books for Littles is an online curated list of children’s books that features strong, empowered and diverse voices. In their website post, The Uhura Test: Making Space for Peers and Equals, they establish a simple...
January 4, 2021
Tooth Smarts: Early Preventative Care Improves Smiles for Kids with Disabilities
Parents might not think it’s imperative to be concerned about dental care before a child has teeth, but that simply isn’t true. Since the mouth is where most bacteria enter the body, tooth decay can...
November 3, 2020
Three Excellence in Journalism Awards Received from the San Diego Press Club
YES, we did it again! The Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego won three outstanding awards at the 47th Annual San Diego Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards. Our annual publication, Flourishing Families, once again received a 3rd place...
October 12, 2020
Success at the All Inclusive Day of Play Drive-Thru Event 2020
We had a great time hosting the All Inclusive Day of Play Drive-Thru Event! We were able to combine efforts from many local organizations to help families find needed resources and create unique family memories...
October 9, 2020
All Inclusive Day of Play Craft Projects for Children of All Abilities
https://youtu.be/JiHorIKSoiU
September 18, 2020
All Inclusive Day of Play & Resource Fair Interactive Drive-Thru Event!
The Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego is hosting our 3rd annual All Inclusive Day of Play & Resource Fair. This Interactive Drive-Thru event is FREE for families this fall! On Sunday, October 11...
September 12, 2020
Vendor Resources: All Inclusive Day Of Play Drive-thru Event
The Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego is hosting our 3rd annual All Inclusive Day of Play & Resource Fair. Here's a resource list of vendors who will be attending this year's event. Anna...
September 11, 2020
All-Inclusive Virtual READ 3X3 Literacy Event Success
Thanks for joining us at the 2nd annual All-Inclusive READ 3 x 3 Literacy Event hosted by the Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego. We had a great time working with local authors, Henry...
July 29, 2020
San Diego Union-Tribune’s “Someone San Diego Should Know” – Emily Dolton
Our resource specialist Emily Dolton was recently featured in San Diego Union-Tribune's "Someone San Diego Should Know" column. Emily has been instrumental in the development of the Special Needs Resource Foundation and our annual Flourishing Families resource guide, available for...
July 2, 2020
Superhero Sensory Sidewalk Course
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_OCa2qqaZo Create a Superhero-Themed Obstacle Course Who doesn’t love an old-fashioned obstacle course? San Diego artist Emily Dolton created an amazing superhero-themed course with sidewalk chalk and toys to inspire families to make their own....
June 1, 2020
Music Moves Us: The Buzz on Local Musician Steph Johnson
Two years ago, Steph Johnson and Brady Grinnell were on the cover of Flourishing Families, our annual publication featuring resources and articles for parents of children with special needs. Brady has Autism and was featured...
May 28, 2020
Programs that Offer Faith-Based Support
When Amanda Coleman responded to a friend’s invitation to visit a faith-based program for families with special needs, she didn’t know what to expect. Coleman, who doesn’t consider herself religious, recognized the importance of finding...
April 16, 2020
Home Learning Resources for Kids with Special Needs
Families are facing unprecedented challenges in the wake of shelter-in-place guidelines. As teachers rally to support caregivers for in-home learning, parents also face the task of setting up homes and schedules to manage students’ educational...
February 28, 2020
Inclusion Films Produces the Award-Winning Film, Carol of the Bells
Inclusion Films—dedicated to training filmmakers who have developmental disabilities—celebrated a huge win at the San Diego International Film Festival in October 2019. The organization’s first feature-length project Carol of the Bells earned the festival’s coveted...
February 12, 2020
How to Safeguard Children with Special Needs from Bullying
When young Cody joined the peer inclusion preschool at his neighborhood public school, he fit in from the start. His class was a mix of neurotypical “peer mentors” and children with disabilities, including students like...
January 6, 2020
Success at the Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Movie Fundraiser
We had so much fun hosting this year's movie fundraiser! Thank you to all the guests, who came out in support of the event. All event proceeds will go to helping families with special needs....
The How and Why of Self-Care for Caregivers
Many caregivers live with chronic stress—the kind that gnaws at mental and physical health. It can lead to burnout, fatigue and strained relationships. Parenting a child with special needs can be all-consuming, but caregivers who...
December 5, 2019
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Movie Fundraiser
Join the Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego on December 20, 7 pm at UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley for the celebration of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker movie fundraiser! Watch the video from...
November 19, 2019
Improv on the Spectrum
by Anne Malinoski I recently had the privilege of meeting with local nonprofit Unscripted Learning to observe their popular youth improv class. Like many teens I know, the students were quirky, comical and utterly delighted...
November 5, 2019
Success! Beyond the Diagnostic Label – Facilitating Communication and Interaction
Thank you for joining the Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego for our first speaker series topic: Beyond the Diagnostic Label – Facilitating Communication and Interaction presented by Karyn Lewis Searcy, M.A. CCC-SLP Karyn discussed...
November 1, 2019
Book Reviews for Families with Special Needs
Kids of all abilities have similar experiences, how they manage the process can be different and require more care. We've reviewed several books for kids with special needs and the parents and professionals working with...
October 25, 2019
Student Athletes Prove Life on Wheels Has No Boundaries
Meet Riley Phelps A single look at Riley Phelps’ activity schedule is exhausting. Whether she’s hitting the slopes in Mammoth with Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra (with brother Evan snowboarding by her side), surfing the waves...
October 21, 2019
Free Speaker Event for Parents: Beyond the Diagnostic Label – Facilitating Communication and Interaction
Join us, the Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego, as we present our first speaker series topic: Beyond the Diagnostic Label – Facilitating Communication and Interaction presented by Karyn Lewis Searcy, M.A. CCC-SLP Karyn Searcy, clinical...
October 2, 2019
5 Great Apps for Kids with Special Needs
If you’re a parent or caregiver of kids with special needs, you may be familiar with apps that help kids learn to navigate social situations. Here are five that specifically help with communication, understanding emotions,...
August 15, 2019
Success at the All Inclusive Day of Play & Resource Fair!
We had so much fun at the 2019 All Inclusive Day of Play & Resource Fair. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNJrPQxBkdg We were able to combine efforts from many local organizations to help families find needed resources and create wonderful...